Chris Brown allowed to return to US as bail conditions changed after alleged London attack

R&B singer Chris Brown will be allowed to return to the United States as he awaits trial for an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub in 2023.

Judge Tony Baumgartner granted the change to the American musician’s bail conditions at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.

Brown exited the court wearing a white shirt and tie, while making peace signs and waving at onlookers as he got into a car.

Heidi Stonecliffe KC, prosecuting, said the bail conditions remain ‘very stringent’ and ‘numerous’.

The £5 million security fee that Brown was previously ordered to pay to the court remains in place, which is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court and may be forfeited if they breach bail conditions.

Brown has pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm to Abraham Diaw at the Tape venue, a private members’ club in Hanover Square, Mayfair, on February 19 2023.

He has also denied having an offensive weapon – a bottle – in a public place, as well as attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

His co-defendant, US national Omololu Akinlolu, 39, has also denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The alleged victim, producer Abraham Diaw, was standing at the bar of Tape nightclub when he was allegedly struck several times with a bottle and then pursued to a different part of the venue, where he was said to have been punched and kicked.

Brown was staying at the five-star Lowry Hotel when police came to arrest him on May 15.

A week later, on May 21, Southwark Crown Court heard that he had been released from HMP Forest Bank in Salford, Greater Manchester, under bail conditions and ordered to pay the security fee of £5 million guaranteeing his return.

Brown’s previous bail conditions allowed him to continue with his scheduled international tour.

He had to live at a specific address known to the court and was not allowed to visit the nightclub, or contact Mr Diaw or apply for international travel documents.

Granting both defendants permission to return to the US, Judge Baumgartner said on Friday: “You will have to come back to the United Kingdom when you are required to do so.”

He reminded them that failure to attend court dates when required could jeopardise the securities.

There were more than a dozen people in the public gallery and the defendants spoke only to confirm their identities and that they understood the new conditions.

They will next appear at the same court on January 28.

Brown took the opportunity while on stage in June to thank the Manchester prison for being ‘really nice’.

As part of his Breezy Bowl XX tour, Brown performed at the Co-op Live Arena and said to the crowd: ‘I just want to tell you all, I love you all to death, I am so thankful that I could come out here tonight.’

He added: ‘Thank you all for having me and supporting me, and thank you to the jail, y’all was really nice.’

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